Last season JR Smith joined the Knicks after spending the first half in China due to the lockout. Smith came in and immediately impacted the team. He struggled at times with consistency, but when his shots fell, the Knicks were tough to beat. Averaging 12.5 points per game, Smith really did his best to be the bench scorer the Knicks lacked.
In six games last season Smith scored over twenty points and in all those game the Knicks won. Then the numbers get crazier. In games in which Smith would play between 29 to 36 minutes, the Knicks would win 14 of 19 games. The more minutes came mostly because of the struggles of Landry Fields. So the case could be made that Smith should play somewhere within that range.
Shockingly the more Smith shot last season, the more the Knicks won. When Smith shot between 15 to 22 shots, Smith helped the Knicks to a 8-1 record. This amazes me simply because it doesn’t seem believable. Smith had an impact in more ways then first thought and last season was a pivotal player for the team.
What to Expect
This season my expectations for JR Smith are a bit high, but he can do it. First off Smith has to come off the bench. Starting him would take away shots from the two main scorers in Carmelo Anthony and Amare Stoudemire. Smith love to shoot and starting him would take his aggression away and the Knicks would suffer with not having a high scoring bench.
Now for the expected numbers. Smith should range from 14 to 16 points with about three rebounds per game. He has the potential this season to be in the running for the sixth man award. His offensive abilities are perfect for the award and this season don’t be surprised if he is able to win it. The key for him is to just play his game. Off the bench he has the freedom to get as much shots as he wants.
One aspect that cannot go unnoticed is his defensive abilities. He did make bad decisions at times, but he would always make up for it on the offensive end. In four games last season Smith had five steal performances. He also had a game of four steals. Those games Smith was active with getting into the passing lanes and being an aggressive defensive player. This season Smith will have to continue to show his assertiveness on that end and continue to prove that he isn’t just a great scorer.
This could be a career year for Smith. He has to keep a leveled head and think before he acts and he’ll be fine. The Knicks are counting on his production and this season Smith should be a force off the bench.
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